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THE CHOPS
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Scholastic notebook news ...
Schoolastic notebook ...
The world that is W.P.I.A.L. Class (AAAA) boys’ basketball Section #3 seems upside down. And it’s been a long time since North Hills has looked at the world this way.
The upside down part has to do with New Castle and North Hills. New Castle is in last place in the section with a 1-3 record. This is strange because New Castle has won or tied for the section title nine times since John Sarandrea took over as coach in the 1992-93 season.
Meanwhile, North Hills is at the top of the standings in the section with a 4-0 record, 7-2 overall. North Hills has been mediocre program for much of the past two decades, with the exception of a few years ago when the Indians made the playoffs two years in a row. Overall, North Hills has made the playoffs only eight times in school history and only twice since the 1990s.
Consider this: This is the first time North Hills is 4-0 in section play since the 1977-78 season. That year, North Hills started section play 6-0 before losing to North Allegheny, 66-56. The Indians went on to tie for the section championship with Valley and North Allegheny, and then won a two-game playoff at the end of the season to get the No. 1 seed. That is one of only three section titles in school history.
North Hills is thriving this season under second-year coach Joe Falletta. A former Robert Morris basketball player, Falletta turned around Hopewell’s program and enjoyed great success in his nine years there. He obviously is having an effect on North Hills.
“We’re excited about the way things are going,” Falletta said. “We have good kids at North Hills and I think they’re starting to believe in what we’re trying to do – and they’re starting to believe in themselves a little.”
But Falletta knows it’s still early in the season – and Section 3 is a battleground this year.
“This section is very tough this year and we have to keep improving,” Falletta said. “We have a lot of tough games left – at home and on the road.”
North Hills seems to have a nice, balanced team this season. Senior Caleb Dorman, a 6-foot-5 forward, has been the Indians’ most consistent offensive player, scoring in double figures in most games. Dorman and 6-4 Dexter Bertram have handled the inside play. Senior Evan Sandherr is proving to be one of the best point guards in the section. He has size (6-3), quickness and is an excellent passer.
The Indians also have been bolstered recently by the play of junior guard Josh Trocchio, who had six 3-pointers against New Castle. Trocchio has scored 20 points or more in two of the past three games.
“We’re not just happy with we’re at now,” Falletta said. “But we’re doing some good things and we’re excited with where the program is going as a whole.”
Deceiving Record
Maybe it was surprising that Montour was trounced by Blackhawk, 80-44, Tuesday night. After all, Montour came into the game with an undefeated record.
But maybe the score should have been no surprise when you consider Montour’s competition. None of Montour’s had a record above .500. The combined record of those seven teams is 16-45.
Football Players Help
Penn Hills is the only team with an undefeated section record in WPIAL Class (AAAA) Section #2. Two of the reasons are two talented football players.
Senior guards Kenny Lewis and David Harvey are key cogs for Penn Hills on the hardwood, after starring on the football field the past three seasons. Harvey’s contribution is not surprising. He was a starting guard on last year’s PIAA Class (AAAA) championship team. Lewis, though, hasn’t played basketball since ninth grade. He didn’t come out for the team as a sophomore, and didn’t play last year because of a shoulder injury from football.
Lewis and Harvey create havoc with their speed. Even their football coach is in awe of them on the basketball court.
“I knew they were quick,” Lewis said. “But I don’t know if you really realize it until you see how they are on the basketball court. They are just unbelievably quick.”
Up to Speed:
Speaking of quickness and speed, Penn State is putting together a recruiting class that might make for some nice relay teams in track.
Knowledge Timmons of York William Penn High is Penn State’s newest recruit. He is the PIAA Class (AAA) champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and was one of the fastest track sprinters in the country as a junior. He beat North Hills’ Andrew Johnson to win the 100 title. Timmons’ time was 10.56 seconds.
Another one of Penn State’s recruits is Gateway’s Justin King. He also was one of the top sprinters in Western Pennsylvania track last season.
And then there’s receiver Derrick Williams of Greenbelt, Md. Ranked by some scouting services as the No.# 1 player in the country, Williams also has great speed, running the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.
Some top recruits haven’t fared well at Penn State in recent years. It will be interesting to see if some of the newest recruits keep moving in the fast lane.
On the Move:
In one of the more shocking coaching moves, Rich Bowen has resigned at Yough to become the coach at Serra Catholic, his alma mater.
It’s shocking because it looked like Bowen and Yough had turned the corner, finishing 7-3 this season and making the WPIAL Class (AAA) playoffs. The Cougars were winless in 2003.
But Bowen has said he likes to try and turn around programs.
At Serra, he will have no where to go but up, as the Eagles are one of the worst programs in the W.P.I.A.L..
But this is Bowen’s second time around at Serra.
In 1990, Bowen took over a Serra program that was 2-29 in three years before his arrival. In 1992, Serra won a conference title. Bowen left after the "1993" season and Serra hasn't finished above .500 since.
Bowen also has resigned as Yough’s athletic director. Serra gave him a job as assistant director of development.
Where Are They Now???????????????
Kaleena Walters was a standout volleyball player at Mount Lebanon High School. Now she’s a standout in a big-time college conference.
Walters recently finished her junior season at Penn State and was named a first-team all-Big Ten Conference selection.
She set a Penn State record for digs in a season, breaking her old record of 554 last year.
Penn State finished 29-3 and lost to U.C.L.A. in the N.C.A.A. regional semifinals.
"THE CHOPS".
The world that is W.P.I.A.L. Class (AAAA) boys’ basketball Section #3 seems upside down. And it’s been a long time since North Hills has looked at the world this way.
The upside down part has to do with New Castle and North Hills. New Castle is in last place in the section with a 1-3 record. This is strange because New Castle has won or tied for the section title nine times since John Sarandrea took over as coach in the 1992-93 season.
Meanwhile, North Hills is at the top of the standings in the section with a 4-0 record, 7-2 overall. North Hills has been mediocre program for much of the past two decades, with the exception of a few years ago when the Indians made the playoffs two years in a row. Overall, North Hills has made the playoffs only eight times in school history and only twice since the 1990s.
Consider this: This is the first time North Hills is 4-0 in section play since the 1977-78 season. That year, North Hills started section play 6-0 before losing to North Allegheny, 66-56. The Indians went on to tie for the section championship with Valley and North Allegheny, and then won a two-game playoff at the end of the season to get the No. 1 seed. That is one of only three section titles in school history.
North Hills is thriving this season under second-year coach Joe Falletta. A former Robert Morris basketball player, Falletta turned around Hopewell’s program and enjoyed great success in his nine years there. He obviously is having an effect on North Hills.
“We’re excited about the way things are going,” Falletta said. “We have good kids at North Hills and I think they’re starting to believe in what we’re trying to do – and they’re starting to believe in themselves a little.”
But Falletta knows it’s still early in the season – and Section 3 is a battleground this year.
“This section is very tough this year and we have to keep improving,” Falletta said. “We have a lot of tough games left – at home and on the road.”
North Hills seems to have a nice, balanced team this season. Senior Caleb Dorman, a 6-foot-5 forward, has been the Indians’ most consistent offensive player, scoring in double figures in most games. Dorman and 6-4 Dexter Bertram have handled the inside play. Senior Evan Sandherr is proving to be one of the best point guards in the section. He has size (6-3), quickness and is an excellent passer.
The Indians also have been bolstered recently by the play of junior guard Josh Trocchio, who had six 3-pointers against New Castle. Trocchio has scored 20 points or more in two of the past three games.
“We’re not just happy with we’re at now,” Falletta said. “But we’re doing some good things and we’re excited with where the program is going as a whole.”
Deceiving Record
Maybe it was surprising that Montour was trounced by Blackhawk, 80-44, Tuesday night. After all, Montour came into the game with an undefeated record.
But maybe the score should have been no surprise when you consider Montour’s competition. None of Montour’s had a record above .500. The combined record of those seven teams is 16-45.
Football Players Help
Penn Hills is the only team with an undefeated section record in WPIAL Class (AAAA) Section #2. Two of the reasons are two talented football players.
Senior guards Kenny Lewis and David Harvey are key cogs for Penn Hills on the hardwood, after starring on the football field the past three seasons. Harvey’s contribution is not surprising. He was a starting guard on last year’s PIAA Class (AAAA) championship team. Lewis, though, hasn’t played basketball since ninth grade. He didn’t come out for the team as a sophomore, and didn’t play last year because of a shoulder injury from football.
Lewis and Harvey create havoc with their speed. Even their football coach is in awe of them on the basketball court.
“I knew they were quick,” Lewis said. “But I don’t know if you really realize it until you see how they are on the basketball court. They are just unbelievably quick.”
Up to Speed:
Speaking of quickness and speed, Penn State is putting together a recruiting class that might make for some nice relay teams in track.
Knowledge Timmons of York William Penn High is Penn State’s newest recruit. He is the PIAA Class (AAA) champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and was one of the fastest track sprinters in the country as a junior. He beat North Hills’ Andrew Johnson to win the 100 title. Timmons’ time was 10.56 seconds.
Another one of Penn State’s recruits is Gateway’s Justin King. He also was one of the top sprinters in Western Pennsylvania track last season.
And then there’s receiver Derrick Williams of Greenbelt, Md. Ranked by some scouting services as the No.# 1 player in the country, Williams also has great speed, running the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.
Some top recruits haven’t fared well at Penn State in recent years. It will be interesting to see if some of the newest recruits keep moving in the fast lane.
On the Move:
In one of the more shocking coaching moves, Rich Bowen has resigned at Yough to become the coach at Serra Catholic, his alma mater.
It’s shocking because it looked like Bowen and Yough had turned the corner, finishing 7-3 this season and making the WPIAL Class (AAA) playoffs. The Cougars were winless in 2003.
But Bowen has said he likes to try and turn around programs.
At Serra, he will have no where to go but up, as the Eagles are one of the worst programs in the W.P.I.A.L..
But this is Bowen’s second time around at Serra.
In 1990, Bowen took over a Serra program that was 2-29 in three years before his arrival. In 1992, Serra won a conference title. Bowen left after the "1993" season and Serra hasn't finished above .500 since.
Bowen also has resigned as Yough’s athletic director. Serra gave him a job as assistant director of development.
Where Are They Now???????????????
Kaleena Walters was a standout volleyball player at Mount Lebanon High School. Now she’s a standout in a big-time college conference.
Walters recently finished her junior season at Penn State and was named a first-team all-Big Ten Conference selection.
She set a Penn State record for digs in a season, breaking her old record of 554 last year.
Penn State finished 29-3 and lost to U.C.L.A. in the N.C.A.A. regional semifinals.
"THE CHOPS".